DC Comics' Absolute Universe Is the Reboot We Deserve and These 10 Epic Moments Prove It
In just a few short months, DC Comics' new line of Absolute titles have formed a world filled with epic moments that have resonated with fans everywhere. With six titles part of DC’s All In initiative, the universe just keeps getting bigger and providing fans with more powerful scenes.
The Absolute Universe began when Darkseid died and his energy settled on Earth-Alpha, creating a world where hope was the underdog and adversity was its guiding principle. Heroes have risen, but they face greater challenges than their Prime Universe counterparts. Read on to discover 10 moments that showcase the most defining moments of DC Comics’ Absolute Universe (so far).
10 Absolute Wonder Woman #4
Diana Shows Off Powerful Blood Magic
The first arc of Absolute Wonder Woman deals with her protecting Gateway City from the menace of the Tetracide, a beast powerful enough to completely annihilate humanity. While Diana doesn’t lack ideas about how to fight the monster, she does lack an arm. She and Steve Trevor pull away from the battle to seek out Steve’s friend Etta Candy and her sister, Gia, for herbs Wonder Woman needs to complete a healing spell.
However, Diana needs more than just herbs and requires blood, which Steve, Etta, and Gia all give to the Amazon. In a closet, Wonder Woman says a prayer to Hecate and Diana’s ritual is rewarded with a brand-new arm. It’s a wild scene, but one that really helps this Diana stand out from her Prime counterpart.
9 Absolute Batman #2/3
Debut of the Brand-New Batmobile
Bruce Wayne has his hands full in Absolute Batman when he takes on the Party Animals, one of the deadliest gangs to ever attack Gotham. While investigating mayoral candidate Hamilton Hill, Batman comes under attack forcing him to flee down an elevator shaft into a control room where Alfred Pennyworth is waiting for him. As the attack worsens, Batman reveals the ‘room’ they’re standing in is actually Batman’s oversized Batmobile.
This version of Batman’s car is more of a souped-up industrial dump truck, and as one would expect, it’s armed to the teeth and can even modify itself to become more like a traditional car mid-chase. Not only is it cool to see that the biggest Batman has a big Batmobile, but it’s fascinating to watch how this more practical Batman thinks outside the box.
- Created By
- Bob Kane, Bill Finger
- First Appearance
- Detective Comics
- Alias
- Bruce Wayne
- Alliance
- Justice League, Outsiders, Batman Family
8 Absolute Green Lantern #1
Hal Jordan Turns to the Dark Side
Absolute Green Lantern has only just started, but it began with a bang and, sadly for Hal Jordan, it's his finger on the proverbial trigger. An extended flashback shows how Hal and his friends accidentally came into contact with a Green Lantern-like construct brought to their town by the mysterious Abin Sur. Days after contact, Hal’s hand is glowing with black energy, and he’s desperately trying to control it.
Unfortunately, the world won’t let Hal be. He comes across a cop and later, several diners, who become aggressive at Hal’s behavior, forcing him to reveal his hand. When he does, the black energy springs forward and absorbs anyone unlucky enough to encounter Hal. The Absolute Universe is filled with challenges, and for Hal, he has to contain a killer monster affixed to him.
- Created By
- Martin Nodell, Bill Finger, John Broome, Gil Kane, Dennis O'Neil, Neal Adams
- Cast
- Ryan Reynolds
- First Appearance
- All-American Comics
- Alias
- Alan Scott, Hal Jordan, Guy Gardner, John Stewart, Kyle Rayner, Simon Baz, Jessica Cruz, Sojourner Mullein
7 Absolute Batman #5
Batman Burns Millions in Signal to Criminals
Despite operating on a smaller budget, Bruce was able to do some serious damage to Black Mask and the Party Animals’ operation. Black Mask offered Batman a truce in the form of 200 million dollars in exchange for Bruce standing down. Shockingly, Bruce agreed to take the money. Within days, Black Mask had the funds wired to Bruce and the two agreed to meet. Little does Black Mask know that Batman wanted to use the money for only one thing.
Bruce took all the money Black Mask gave him and set it on top of a floodlight to broadcast a ‘Bat-signal’ of sorts. The money burned away and Batman continued his war against Black Mask. Not only did this moment showcase Bruce's principles, it reaffirmed that this Batman doesn’t need the money his counterpart relies on.
6 Absolute Wonder Woman #5
Diana Becomes a Monster to Fight a Monster
Diana was faced with bad and worse options when it came to taking down the Tetracide and in Absolute Wonder Woman #5, she finally pulled out her big gun. She brought out her Sacrifice lasso, a weapon forged by her adoptive mother, Circe, which causes powerful transformations. Rather than use it on the Tetracide, Wonder Woman binds the Sacrifice lasso around her arm, causing her to grow into a giant Medusa monster.
The battle is over before it even starts as one gaze into the transformed Diana’s eyes causes the Tetracide to turn to stone. What’s important to note, though, is that Wonder Woman did this not knowing if she’d be able to turn back (which she did thanks to Steve). It’s a moment that proves Absolute Wonder Woman embodies the core of the hero and is ready to sacrifice everything for the world.
5 Absolute Flash #1
A Legacy Dies Before It's Born
Every hero is missing something in the Absolute Universe and in Wally West’s case, he’s deprived of a legacy he usually counts on. In Absolute Flash #1, Wally is a teenager living on a military base and makes friends with Barry Allen, a scientist working on the secretive Project Olympus. Wally later sneaks out against his father’s orders to see what exactly Barry’s working on.
When Wally arrives at Barry’s lab, however, the scientist is in the middle of an experiment, and he desperately pleads for Wally to leave. Things happen in a flash and before Wally knows it, he’s imbued with powerful, uncontrollable speed. Worse, Barry is dead and Wally is blaming himself for it. It’s a hell of an opening act that’s undoubtedly going to stick with the Absolute Flash for a long time.
- Created By
- Gardner Fox, Harry Lampert, Carmine Infantino
- First Appearance
- Flash Comics
- Alias
- Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Wally West, Bart Allen, Avery Ho
- Alliance
- Justice Society of America, Justice League, Teen Titans
4 Absolute Superman #5
Kal-El Loses Krypton and His Family
Absolute Superman’s opening arc has a dual narrative. In addition to showing Superman on Earth, flashbacks show one of the biggest changes to Kal-El’s lore, namely his childhood on Krypton. In the Absolute Universe, Superman saw firsthand the corruption and greed that destroyed his planet. He saw his father arrested and his government turn against his family just as the planet’s end drew near.
Thankfully, Kal-El and his parents were able to modify a ship to protect a handful of Kryptonians. But as the planet exploded, their ship was destroyed, fracturing into smaller ships that went in different directions, separating Kal-El from his people and more importantly, Jor-El and Lara. It was a haunting moment that is still affecting the Absolute Superman to this day as he struggles with his lingering trauma.
- Created By
- Joe Shuster, Jerry Siegel
- First Appearance
- Action Comics
- Alias
- Kal-El, Clark Kent, Jonathan Kent
- Alliance
- Justice League, Superman Family
3 Absolute Batman #1
Bruce Wayne Debuts His Powerful Weaponry
The Absolute Universe is far more difficult and, in Gotham, the Party Animals led to skyrocketing crime rates. Operating under Black Mask’s orders, the criminals were doing anything and everything to make the city worse. Thankfully, Bruce was ready for them when they attacked a town hall and threatened to kill everyone inside. For the first time, the world got to know Absolute Batman and the impressive weaponry hidden inside his multi-functional batsuit.
From extendable spikes in his shoulder pads to batarangs hidden in the ears of his cowl, the Party Animals were no match for Batman, especially once he used his chest symbol as an ax to chop off a criminal’s hand. It was a brutal and fluid fight, but more importantly, it showed that the greatest strength of this Batman is his ingenuity.
2 Absolute Martian Manhunter #1
Readers Experience Martian Vision
Absolute Martian Manhunter was heralded as something special by fellow Absolute line creators and the series’ first issue did not disappoint. FBI agent John Jones is injured in an explosion and begins noticing strange, colorful smoke everywhere he goes in the following days. He also begins hearing and seeing things he knows he shouldn’t know as a mysterious voice speaks to him. Jones is eventually overwhelmed until he discovers the Martian inhabiting his consciousness.
At the end of Absolute Martian Manhunter #1, the final two pages are meant to be viewed in tandem with assistance from a light source. When one looks at their shared page, one can see the Martian peering through Jones’ mind as he introduces himself to John. It’s an outrageously creative idea and one that really helped this issue stand out from the other Absolute titles.
1 Absolute Wonder Woman #3
Diana's Heartfelt Appeal to a City in Danger
Diana spends a lot of time in Absolute Wonder Woman’s first arc trying to defeat the monster endangering Gateway City. Despite having a few tricks left up her sleeve, Diana realizes time is running out before the Tetracide emits a sound that will lull everyone to their deaths. In order to save the city’s citizens, Wonder Woman appears on a live newscast to inform the public about what’s about to happen.
Absolute Wonder Woman informs the city that she’s going to deafen everyone to protect them from the Tetracide's death call. She asks for calmness and more importantly, compassion for neighbors, telling the scared viewers that she believes in all of them. As different as the Absolute Universe is, Wonder Woman is still the loving hero who’s there to guide humanity in its darkest hours.
- Created By
- William Moulton Marston, H. G. Peter
- Cast
- Gal Gadot
- First Appearance
- All Star Comics
- Alias
- Diana Prince
